Athens grows into Tree City USA

A number of local Arbor Day events are planned throughout this week -- in advance of Arbor Day on Friday -- to bring attention to the importance of trees in the landscape.

A highlight of the week comes Thursday, with the planting of a tree at Winterville Elementary School.

The tree, a sapling from the well-known ''Tree That Owns Itself,'' at the intersection of Finley and Dearing Streets, will be dedicated to the memory of Carol Ann and Katie Colquitt, a Winterville mother and daughter who died in an automobile accident last year at the intersection of Olympic and Athena drives.

Carol Ann Colquitt was a teacher of special-needs students at Winterville Elementary. Her daughter was a student at the school.

Events surrounding the ceremonial planting begin at 1 p.m., and will include songs and poetry readings by students.

The Community Tree Council, a citizens' committee that makes recommendations to Athens-Clarke County officials on tree education issues, makes it a point each year to find a visible public venue to plant a tree in recognition of Arbor Day, according to Roger Cauthen, the council's secretary.

''We have chosen the elementary school because institutional campuses create long-term settings for trees,'' Cauthen said. ''It's very important for the students to have environmental awareness.''

At 11:30 a.m. Friday, a luncheon is scheduled for the Classic Center in downtown Athens, with the Community Tree Council presenting Mayor Doc Eldridge with a sign declaring Athens-Clarke a ''Tree City USA.''

Cauthen said the state granted Athens-Clarke County the Tree City USA status as a result of the local government's commitment to an annual observance of Arbor Day, its annual ceremonial tree-planting, and the fact that the government spends an amount equal to $2 per county resident on local tree-care programs.

Also at Friday's luncheon, Friend of Trees awards will be presented to two businesses, one institution and one individual. The businesses and institution will get the honor due to the aesthetically pleasing manner in which they landscape their grounds with trees.

The business honorees are Athens Newspapers and Big City Bread. The institutional award will go to the Athens-Clarke County Library. The individual award will go to Athens resident Jimmy Mock.

''These awards are presented to those who present a special stewardship for trees in the community,'' Cauthen said.

Beginning Wednesday, white oak seedlings will be available from the State Botanical Garden on South Milledge Avenue. Some 500 saplings will be given away through Friday. The seedlings will be available from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.

The State Botanical Garden will host a tree identification class today from 9 a.m. until noon at a charge of $8 for garden members and $9 for non-members. The class will teach how to identify trees by their bark and will culminate with a walk through the garden grounds, giving participants a chance to test what they've learned.

''By being in some of these Arbor Day events, people can discover that man and woman's true best friend is a tree,'' said Anne Shenk, Botanical Garden director of education. ''They clean the air and provide food and medicine.''

Other classes offered by the State Botanical Gardens include:

A pruning workshop from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, where attendees will learn to prune their plants or trees to promote ''vigorous new growth'' according to Shenk. The workshop will be $8 for members and $9 for non-members.

A free ''tree ramble'' at 10 a.m. Saturday, where people will tour the gardens and learn tree identification as well as the cultural and ecological importance of trees.

Oconee County reporter Kevin Conner can be reached at kconner@onlineathens.com or (706)769-9126.